Method and apparatus for sequentially moving dampening rollers

ABSTRACT

A dampener unit that transfers dampening fluid from a fountain to the surface of a plate cylinder. The dampener unit includes a fountain roller, a metering roller, an intermediate roller and one or more form rollers. The rollers are in series contact and the form rollers transfer the dampening fluid to the surface of the plate cylinder. Cam actuated form roller positioning devices are arranged to sequentially move the form roller away from the surface of the plate cylinder and thereafter move the form rollers away from and out of surface contact with the intermediate roller. A crank arm connected to the same actuator as the cam is connected to a lever mechanism that moves the metering roller away from the fountain roller. The rollers are repositioned in operative dampening fluid transfer position by first moving the metering roller into surface contact with the fountain roller. After the intermediate roller is into surface contact with the intermediate roller. After the form rollers are wetted with dampening fluid, the form rollers are moved into surface contact with the plate cylinder and dampening fluid is transferred from the fountain to the surface of the plate cylinder without ink pickup by the rollers of the dampening unit from the plate cylinder. Suitable drive gearing is associated with the cylinders of the dampening unit to rotate the cylinders at preselected speeds relative to each other.

United States Patent {72] Inventor Car10.Siebke PittsburghJa. [21] AppLNo. 738,268 [22] Filed June 19,1968 [45] Patented Sept.7, 1971 [73] Assignee Miller Printing Machinery Co.

' Pittsburgh.

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY MOVING DAMPENING ROLLERS 9Claims, 17 Drawingl igs.

[S2] U.S.Cl 101/148, 101/426, 101/351, 101/352 [51] 1nt.Cl..... B41125/l6 [50] Fleldofseardl 101/148, 351,352,426

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,912 2/1958 Kasermann 101/148 1,029,239 6/1912 Smith 101/148 2,915,007 12/1959 JohnsonetaL. 101/148 2,915,970 12/1959 Mestre 10l/148X 2 3,163,110 12/1964 Thompson 101 v3S1X/ 3,274,932 9/1966 Caza 101/351 3,279,371 10/1966 Mestre. 101/352 3,304,863 2/1967 101/351 FOREIGN PATE 219,161 7/1924 GreatBritain 101/148 ter 58 355,830 8/1931 GreatBritain ABSTRACT: A dampener unit that transfers dampening fluid from a fountain to the surface of a plate cylinder. The dampener unit includes a fountain roller, a metering roller, an intermediate roller and one or more form rollers. The rollers are in series contact and the form rollers transfer the dampening fluid to the surface of the plate cylinder. Cam actuated form roller positioning devices are arranged to sequentially move the form roller away from the surface of the plate cylinder and thereafter move the form rollers aivay from and out of surface contact with the intermediate roller. A crank arm connected to the same actuator as the cam is connected to a lever mechanism that moves the metering roller away from the fountain roller. The rollers are repositioned in operative dampening fluid transfer position by first moving the metering roller into surface contact with the fountain roller. After the intermediate roller is into surface contact with the inter mediate roller. After the form rollers are wetted with dampening fluid, the form rollers are moved into surface contact with the plate cylinder and dampening fluid is transferred from the fountain to the surface of the plate cylinder without ink pickup by the rollers of the dampening unit from the plate cylinder. Suitable drive gearing is associated with the cylinders of the dampening unit to rotate the cylinders at preselected speeds relative to each other.

PATENTEDSEP nan SHEET 1 BF 4 IN VEN TOR CARL 0. SIEBKE PATENTED SEP 7 Ian SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR CARL 0. S/EB/(E J F; k w Amway PATENTEU SEP 7 I971 SHEEI 3 OF 4 INVENTOR CARL 0. 8/58/65 M3. Q Affomey PATENIEU SEP 7 I971 SHEET l BF 4 INVENTOR CARL 0. SIEB/(E Attorney METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY MOVING DAMPENING ROLLERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a dampening unit for printing presses and more particularly to a dampening unit having apparatus for sequentially positioning certain of the rollers in surface contact with other rollers and the plate cylinder.

2. Description of the Prior Art In dampening units for printing presses, dampening fluid, normally water with or without additives, is applied to a form or plate on a plate cylinder of a lithographic offset printing press to keep the printing form or plate sufiiciently wet in the nonprinting areas so that the ink will not be deposited in these areas. The dampening unit includes a plurality of rollers in series contact between the source of fluid and the plate cylinder. If the form rollers are not wetted sufficiently with dampening fluid, ink from the plate cylinder will be transferred from the plate cylinder to the other rollers of the dampening unit. Ink on the rollers decreases substantially the efficiency of the dampener unit and the quality of the printed sheet. It has been found that additional dampening fluid must be fed to the ink coated areas on the rollers and this results in excessive dampening fluid being fed to the uncoated areas of the rollers. The excess dampening fluid is then transferred to the plate cylinder where emulsification of the ink occurs and nonuniform, undesirable printing results. To properly remedy these defects it is necessary to interrupt the printing operation and laboriously remove the ink coating from the rollers of the dampening unit. The ink also impregnates the fabric covering of the fabric covered rollers and reduces the fluid transfer efficiency of the fabric covered roller. The ink impregnated fabric must then be removed and replaced.

The amount of dampening fluid transferred to the plate cylinder should be carefully metered and uniformly applied. The amount of dampening fluid transferred to the plate cylinder should be maintained at a minimum and theoretically only enough dampening fluid transferred to form a uniform minimum thickness film on the nonprinting area of the plate to repel the ink. In the past it has been the practice to compensate for ink coated dampener rollers and it was believed to reduce the transfer of ink to the dampener unit, an excessive amount of dampening fluid should be transferred. Rather than improving the printing operation, the use of excessive fluid multiplied the problems and reduced the printing quality proportionately.

A proposed solution to this problem, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,062, is to use a specially treated transfer roller that has a hydrophillic roller surface. The film of dampening fluid on the roller surface is transferred to the plate cylinder by surface contact with an ink form roller. The film of dampening fluid is split so that a portion is picked up by the ink on the ink form roller and transferred to the plate cylinder. The other portion remains as a film on the hydrophillic transfer roller. With this arrangement the transfer of dampening fluid is dependent on a film of ink on an ink form roller. The above disclosed arrangement requires specially treated rollers to make the entire surface of the roller hydrophillic. Otherwise, without such treatment to the entire surface of the roller, the ink would adhere to the untreated portion of the roller and be transferred back to the other rollers of the dampening unit. There is a need, therefore, for a dampener unit that eliminates ink pickup by the rollers and uniformly distributes a controlled and metered amount of dampening fluid to the plate cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for eliminating ink pickup by the rollers of a dampening unit. The dampening unit includes a fountain roller partially immersed in a reservoir of dampening fluid. A metering roller is in surface contact with the fountain roller and an intermediate roller to transfer a controlled amount of dampening fluid from the fountain roller to the intermediate roller. Two or more form rollers are in surface contact with the intermediate roller and the surface of the plate cylinder. The form rollers are operable to transfer a film of dampening fluid from the intermediate roller to the surface of the plate cylinder. Form roller positioning means are provided to move the form rollers into and out of contact with the surface of the plate cylinder and into and out of contact with the surface of the intermediate roller. There is also provided metering roller positioning means operable to move the metering roller toward and away from said fountain roller. With this arrangement the form rollers may be sequentially moved first out of contact with the plate cylinder while the form rollers are wetted by dampening fluid, and thereafter moved out of contact with the intermediate roller to thus eliminate ink pickup from the plate cylinder. The metering roller is thereafter moved out of contact with the fountain roller. In repositioning the rollers of the dampening unit, the metering roller is first moved into surface contact with the fountain roller and after the intermediate roller is wetted with dampening fluid, the form rollers are thereafter moved into surface contact with the intermediate roller to wet the surface of the form rollers with dampening fluid. After the surfaces of the form rollers are wetted with dampening fluid, they are moved into surface contact with the plate cylinder to transfer dampening fluid from the reservoir to the surface of the plate cylinder.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to eliminate ink pickup from the plate cylinder by the rollers of a dampening unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dampening unit wherein the form rollers are arranged to first move out of surface contact with the plate cylinder and thereafter out of surface contact with an intermediate roller to eliminate ink pickup on the rollers from the plate cylinder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dampening unit wherein the form rollers are spaced from an intermediate roller and from the surface of a plate cylinder and are arranged to first move into surface contact with the intermediate roller and, after the surface of the form rollers is wetted with the dampening fluid, into surface contact with the plate cylinder.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the dampening unit illustrating the form roller positioning means and the metering roller positioning means.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic representations of the dampening unit of FIG. 1 illustrating sequentially the relative positions of the form rollers and the metering roller as the dampening unit is disengaged from the printing cylinder.

FIGS. 20, 3a, 4a and 5a are diagrammatic representations of the positioning cam for the fonn rollers with the cam rollers positioned on segments of the cam to maintain the position of the form rollers as illustrated in corresponding FIGS. 2-5 inelusive.

FIGS. 2b, 3b, 4b and 5b are diagrammatic illustrations of the metering roller positioning device in the position to maintain the metering roller in the positions illustrated in corresponding FIGS. 2-5 inclusive.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the form roller positioning means in a position with the form rollers spaced from the plate cylinder and in surface contact with the intermediate cylinder, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the form rollers spaced from the plate cylinder and the intermediate roller similar to the positions diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 4

I and 5.

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation of the form roller positioning device for the lower form roller.

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the form roller positioning device for the upper form roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT reservoir 18. A metering roller 20 is arranged to be in surface contact with the fountain roller 16 and receive dampening fluid from the surface of the fountain roller and transfer this dampening fluid to an intermediate roller 22 which may be a vibrator roller. The surface of the intermediate roller 22 is treated to be water receptive in the usual manner and preferably reciprocates axially to provide a transverse spreading action of the dampening fluid. The intermediate roller 22 is in surface contact with the form rollers 24 and 26 in a manner that the surfaces of the form rollers 24 and 26 are wetted with the dampening fluid. The form rollers 24 and 26 are in turn positioned in surface contact with the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14. Suitable drive means such as gearing and the like is provided to rotate the respective rollers and plate cylinders at preselected relative speeds to transfer the dampening fluid from the reservoir 18 to the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14 in the direction indicated in FIGS. 2-5 inclusive.

The metering roller 20 remains in surface contact with the intermediate roller 22 both during the transfer of dampening fluid to the impression cylinder 14 and when the transfer of metering fluid is interrupted by movement of the other rollers out of surface contact with each other. With this arrangement, during the transfer of dampening fluid from the fountain roller 16, a continuous metered film of dampening fluid is transferred from the metering roller 20 to the intermediate roller 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5 inclusive, the relative position of the rollers is illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates the on" impression position or, stated otherwise, the position of the respective rollers when the dampening fluid is being transferred from the reservoir 18 to the surface of the plate cylinder 14. Fountain roller 16 is in surface contact with metering roller 20 and intermediate roller 22 is, in turn, in surface contact with metering roller 20. Thus, dampening fluid is transferred from the fountain roller 16 to metering roller 20 and then to intermediate roller 22. The form rollers 24 and 26 are in surface contact with both the intermediate roller 22 and the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14. Dampening fluid from intermediate roller 22 is thus transferred to the form rollers 24 and 26 and from form rollers 24 and 26 to the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14.

When it is desired to stop transferring dampening fluid to the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14, the first movement of the form rollers 24 and 26 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The form rollers 24 and 26 rotate in a circular are about the axis of the intermediate roller 22 away from or out of contact with surface 12 of plate cylinder 14. It should be noted, however, that the form rollers 24 and 26 remain. in surface contact with the intermediate roller 22 so that the surfaces of form rollers 24 and 26 will continue to be wetted with dampening fluid from the intermediate roller 22. This arrangement provides for continued wetting of the form rollers 24 and 26 and prevents the transfer of ink to the form rollers 24 and 26 from the plate cylinder 14 and transfer of ink to the intermediate roller 22 should the form rollers 24 and 26 have ink thereon.

The next sequential movement of the respective rollers is illustrated in FIG. 4 where the form rollers 24 and 26 are moved in an are other than the circular arc about the axis of the intermediate roller 22 so that the form rollers 24 and 26 are moved out of surface contact with the intermediate roller 22. The metering roller 20 remains in surface contact with the fountain roller and with the intermediate roller 22 to continue to transfer dampening fluid thereto. With this arrangement, the form rollers 24 and 26 while wetted with dampening fluid are moved away from the intermediate roller to prevent the transfer of ink from the form rollers to the intermediate roller 22.

The next sequential position of the rollers is illustrated in FIG. 5 where the metering roller 20 is moved out of surface contact with the fountain roller 16 to thus terminate the transfer of dampening fluid from the fountain roller to the intermediate roller 22.

To position the rollers in a dampening fluid transfer relation so that dampening fluid is transferred from the fountain roller 16 to plate cylinder 14, the reverse sequence previously described is followed. First, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the metering roller 20 is moved into surface contact with the fountain roller 16 to thereby transfer dampening fluid to the intermediate roller 22. After the intermediate roller 22 is wetted with dampening fluid, the form rollers 24 and 26 are moved into surface contact with the intermediate roller 22. In this position the dampening fluid is transferred from the intermediate roller 22 to the form rollers 24 and 26, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the form rollers 24 and 26 are wetted with dampening fluid, they are moved into surface contact with the plate cylinder surface 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to supply dampening fluid to the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14.

it will be apparent from the above description of the sequential positioning of the rollers that the form rollers 24 and 26 are wetted with dampening fluid while in contact with both the intermediate roller 22 and the surface of plate cylinder 14. Similarly, the intermediate roller 22 is wetted with dampening fluid when it is in surface contact with the form rollers 24 and 26. Because the respective rollers are wetted with dampening fluid when in surface contact, the pickup and transfer of ink from the plate cylinder to the rollers of the dampening unit is eliminated.

FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 illustrate the pairs of form roller positioning devices generally designated by the numerals 28 and 30 that are actuated by a form roller actuating cam 32. Although only one pair of roller positioning devices located at one side of the press is illustrated, it should be understood that similar positioning devices are also preferably positioned on the opposite side of the press and are actuated by a similar actuating cam suitably connected to the same actuating shaft.

The upper form roller positioning device 28 is illustrated in FIG. 9 and the lower form roller positioning device 30 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 9, the upper form roller has a shaft 34 positioned in a shaft supporting device 36 suitably secured to the printing frame. The supporting device 36 has an arcuate passageway 38 with a first arcuate portion 40 formed on a circular are about the axis 42 of the intermediate roller shaft 44 and a second arcuate portion 46 that extends angularly away from the arcuate portion 40 as later explained. The form roller shaft 34 is slidingly moved in the passageway 38 by the form roller positioning device 28, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, to move the form roller 24 first away from the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14 while in surface contact with the intermediate cylinder 22, and thereafter out of surface contact with the intermediate cylinder 22.

The form roller positioning device 28 has a first annular portion 48 rotatably mounted on the intermediate roller shaft 44. The fist annular member 48 has a radially extending form roller shaft securing arm 50, with a mounting screw 52 threadedly positioned in a portion of the arm 50 to maintain the form roller shaft 34 secured to and movable with the form roller positioning device 28. The first annular portion 48 has a second arm 54 extending therefrom with a longitudinal threaded bore 56 therein. An adjusting screw 58 extends through a cylindrical locking member 60 and is threadedly secured in the threaded bore 56. A wingnut 62 is operable to lock the adjusting screw in a fixed adjusted position. The arm 54 has an extension 64 pivotally connected at its end portion to a biasing rod 66. The biasing rod extends through a passageway 68 in afixed mounting member 70 which may be a portion of the frame or is rigidly secured to the frame. The biasing rod 66 has a threaded end portion 72 with knobs 74 threadedly positioned thereon. A coil spring 76 abuts the fixed mounting member 70 adjacent the bore 68 at one end and the knobs 74 at the other end to urge the adjusting device 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9.

The form roller positioning device 28 has an annular cam follower 78 rotatably mounted on the intennediate roller shaft 44 in underlying relation with the first annular portion 48. The annular cam follower portion 78 has a cam follower arm 80 extending therefrom. A cam roller 82 is rotatably secured to the end of the arm 80 and abuts the positioning cam 32. The cam follower portion 78 has a radially extending protuberance 84 which abuts the ends of the adjusting screw 58. With this arrangement the compressed spring 76 tends to expand and urges the first annular portion 48 of form roller positioning device 28 in a clockwise direction and this force is transferred through the end of adjusting screw 58 to the protuberance 84 which, in turn, urges the cam follower portion 78 of the form roller positioning device 28 in a clockwise direction and the cam roller 82 against the surface of cam 32.

The adjusting screw 58 is operable to move the first annular portion 48 relative to the annular cam follower portion 78 to thus adjust the relative position of the form roller 24 relative to the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14. Thus, where it is desired to increase the space between the form roller 24 and plate cylinder surface 12, the adjusting screw 58 is rotated in the threaded bore 56 to rotate the first annular portion 48 relative to the cam follower portion 78 and thus increase the space between the form roller 24 and the plate cylinder surface 12. Because the cam roller 82 is biased against the surface of cam 32, the cam follower portion 78 remains fixed as the first annular portion 48 is moved about the shaft 44 to adjust the position of the form roller 24. As will later be explained, the rotation of cam 32 moves both portions 78 and 48 of upper form roller positioning device 28 as a unit to thus move the form roller shaft 34 in the arcuate passageway 38.

FIG. 8 illustrates in detail the lower form roller adjusting means 30 which is similar in construction to the upper form roller adjusting means 28, and similar parts will be designated with the same numerals with the exception of the cam roller, which will be designated by the numeral 86. The lower form roller positioning device 30 functions in a manner similar to the upper form roller positioning device 28and is actuated by the same cam mechanism 32.

FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 illustrate the relative positions of the form rollers as controlled by the cam member 32. FIGS. 2a, 3a and 4a illustrate the relative position of the cam member 32 and the cam rollers 82 and 86 associated with the respective upper and lower form roller positioning devices 28 and 30. The cam member 32 is nonrotatably secured to a shaft 88 by a key 90. Thus, rotation of shaft 88 rotates the cam member 32 and positions the cam rollers 82 and 86 on various cam surfaces of the cam 32. The cam 32 has cam surfaces 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 and 102.

When the cam is in theposition illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2a, the cam roller 86 rides on cam surface 92 and cam roller 82 rides on cam surface 98. In this position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper and lower form roller positioning devices 28 and 30 maintain the form rollers 24 and 26 in surface contact with the surface 12 of plate cylinder 14. When the shaft 88 is rotated to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 6, the cam roller 86 has moved onto the cam surface 94 and the cam roller 82 has moved onto the cam surface 100. Because of the configuration of cam 32 and the degree of rotation between FIGS. 2a and 3a, the cam rollers 82 and 86 have moved away from each other which, in turn, has rotated the form roller positioning devices 28 and 30 about the axis of the intermediate roller shaft 44. The arcuate movement of the form roller is controlled by movement of the form roller shafts 34 in the first arcuate portion 40 of passageway 38. As previously stated, arcuate portion 40 is a circular are about the axis of the intermediate roller shaft 44. This position is illustrated in FIG.

6. With this movement, the form rollers have moved about they axis of the intermediate roller 22 in a direction away from the surface of the plate cylinder 14 to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Further rotation of shaft 88 moves the rollers 86 and 82 onto the cam surfaces 96 and 102 of cam 32 to move the cam rollers 86 and 82 further away from each other to the position illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 7. This second movement of the cam rollers 82 and 86 by the cam 32 rotates the upper and lower form roller positioning devices 28 and 30 and moves the form roller shafts 34 into the second arcuate portion 46 of passageway 38 that has an are that is in angular relation to the arcuate portion 40. In this position the form rollers 24 and 26 are spaced from the intermediate roller 22.

In FIG. 5a the cam 32 has rotated slightly in 'a counterclockwise direction as compared with FIG. 4a. However, the cam rollers 86 and 82 remain on cam surfaces 96 and 102 to maintain the form rollers 24 and 26 in spaced relation to both the plate cylinder 14 and the intermediate roller 22.

The apparatus for moving the metering roller 20 relative to the fountain roller 16 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and semidiagrammatically in FIGS. 2b through 5b. A crank arm 104 is nonrotatably secured to shaft 88 by key 106. It should be noted that both crank arm 104 and cam 32 are mounted on the same shaft 88 so that both cam 32 and crank arm 104 have the same angular displacement. A lever 108 is pivotally connected at one end 110 to the crank arm 104 and has an elongated slot 112 adjacent the other end 114. A support arm 116 is pivotally mounted intermediate the end portions by means of a pin 118 to the press frame or suitable fixed mounting device (not shown). The support arm 116 has a pin 120 extending into the elongated slot 112 of lever 108 and has a saddle portion 122 that supports the shaft 124 of metering roller 20. When the crank arm 104 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2b, the metering roller 20 is in surface contact with the fountain roller 16. Movement of the crank arm in a counterclockwise direction through rotation of shaft 88 to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3b and 4b moves the pin member 120 in the slot 112 to provide a lost motion type of connection.

When the crank arm 104 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 5b, the lever 108 pivots the arm 116 about pin 118 and moves the metering roller shaft 124 upwardly along the side of the U-shaped saddle 122 to thus move the metering roller 20 around the intermediate roller 22 and away from the fountain roller 16 to thus space the metering roller 20 from fountain roller 16.

It will be apparent that the position of the metering roller 20 and the form rollers 24 and 26 are interconnected through the shaft 88 so that the form rollers 24 and 26 are first moved away from the plate cylinder 14 and intermediate roller 22 before the metering roller 20 is moved away from the fountain roller 16. Similarly, the sequence of repositioning the respective rollers includes first moving the metering roller 20 into surface contact with the fountain roller 16, thereafter moving the form rollers 24 and 26 into surface contact with the intermediate roller 22, and thereafter moving the form rollers 24 and 26 into contact with the surface of plate cylinder 12. The sequential movement of the rollers as previously described supplies dampening fluid to the surfaces of the form rollers 24 and 26 before the form rollers are moved into surface contact with the plate cylinder 14, thus eliminating ink pickup on dry form rollers. Similarly, the form rollers 24 and 26 remain wetted with dampening fluid as they are moving away from contact with the plate cylinder Tito prevent ink pickup on dry form rollers. Further, the form rollers while wetted are moved out of contact with the intermediate roller 22 to prevent the transfer of ink to the intermediate roller 22 should any ink be present on the form rollers 24 and 26.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other wise than as specifically illustrated and described.

1. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising,

a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid,

a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller,

a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder,

form roller positioning means to first move said form roller away from the surface of said plate cylinder while said form roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said form roller and to thereafter move said form roller away from said intermediate roller while said intermediate roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said form roller to said intermediate roller,

metering roller positioning means to move said metering roller away from said fountain roller, and

connecting means for both of said positioning means to control the sequential movement of said rollers so that said form roller first moves away from said plate cylinder and thereafter moves away from said intermediate'roller before said metering roller moves away from said fountain roller so that said metering roller moves away from said fountain roller while said metering roller and intermediate roller surfaces are wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said intermediate roller to said fountain roller.

2. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising,

a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid,

a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller,

a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder,

form roller positioning means operable to move said form roller away from the surfaces of said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller while said from roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said rollers,

said form roller positioning means including a form roller shaft support having an arcuate passageway,

said form roller having a shaft positioned in said arcuate passageway,

a form roller position adjusting member rotatably mounted on the intermediate roller shaft, said form roller adjusting member having a connecting portion extending radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft and secured to said form roller shaft, said form roller adjusting member having a cam follower arm extending therefrom radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft,

cam roller means rotatably mounted on said cam follower arm,

a cam member mounted on a camshaft spaced from said intermediate roller shaft, resilient means urging said cam roller against the cam surface of said cam member, and

said cam surface having a configuration to move said cam roller means radially relative to said camshaft and rotate said form roller adjusting member about said intermediate roller shaft and move said form roller shaft in said shaft support arcuate passageway to thereby move said from roller toward and away from said plate cylinder surface.

3. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim 2 in which,

said arcuate passageway in said form roller shaft supporting member has a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion,

said cam member having cam surfaces operable to move said earn follower and said form roller adjusting member to position said form roller shaft successively in said first arcuate portion of said arcuate passageway and thereafter in said second arcuate portion of said arcuate passageway to thereby first move said form roller away from said plate cylinder around said intermediate roller and thereafter move said form roller away from said intermediate roller.

4. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim 2 in which,

said form roller position adjusting member includes a cam follower portion rotatably mounted on said intermediate roller shaft and a separate annular portion rotatably mounted on said intermediate roller shaft,

said cam follower portion having a protuberance extending radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft,

said annular portion having an adjusting screw threadedly secured therein and abutting said protuberance,

said resilient means urging said adjusting screw against said protuberance, said adjusting screw operable to adjust the position of said form roller relative to said plate cylinder surface.

5. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising,

a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to I said intermediate roller,

a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder,

form roller positioning means operable to move said form roller away from the surfaces of said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller while said form roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said rollers,

metering roller positioning means to move said metering roller away from said fountain roller,

said metering roller positioning means including a crank arm secured to an actuator shaft,

' a lever rotatably connected at one end to said crank arm and having an elongated slotted portion adjacent the other end,

an actuator lever having a first end portion and a second end portion, said actuator lever pivotally mounted intermediate said end portions, said actuator lever having a.

pin member adjacent said first end portion positioned in said slotted portion and a saddle portion adjacent said second end portion,

said metering roller having a shaft positioned in said saddle portion,

said crank arm operable upon rotation to first move said pin in said slotted portion and thereafter rotate said pivotally mounted actuating lever to move said metering roller shaft upwardly in said saddle portion and thereby move said metering roller away from said fountain roller.

6. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim in which,

a cam member for moving said form roller positioning means is secured to and rotatable with said actuator shaft so that said from roller is moved away from said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller and thereafter said metering roller is moved away from said fountain roller.

7. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising,

a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid,

a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller,

a pair of form rollers in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form rollers operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder,

form roller shaft supporting elements having elongated arcuatc passageways therein positioned adjacent to said plate cylinder,

said form rollers having shafts positioned in said elongated arcuate passageways,

a pair of form rollers position adjusting members rotatably mounted on the intermediate roller shaft,

said form roller adjusting members each having a connecting portion extending radially therefrom relative to said intermediate roller shaft secured to said respective form roller shafts,

each of said form roller adjusting members having a cam follower arm extending therefrom relative to said intermediate roller shaft,

cam roller means rotatably mounted on both of said am follower arms,

a cam member mounted on a shaft spaced from said intermediate roller shaft,

resilient means urging both of said cam rollers against cam surfaces on opposite sides of said cam member, and

means to rotate said cam member so that said cam member rotates both of said form roller adjusting members about said intermediate roller shaft to move said form roller shaft in said respective shaft supporting elongated arcuate passageways and first move said from rollers away from said plate cylinder surface and thereafter move said form rollers away from said intermediate roller. 8. A method of positioning the rollers in a printing press dampening unit to eliminate ink pickup by the rollers from the plate cylinder in which the dampening unit includes a fountain roller that serves as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to an intermediate roller and a form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from the intermediate roller to the surface of the plate cylinder, said rollers being in series contact with one another to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said plate cylinder,

said method comprising, moving said form roller away from said plate cylinder while said form roller is wetted by said dampening fluid to thereby eliminate ink pickup by said form roller,

thereafter moving said form roller away from said intermediate roller while said intermediate roller surface is wetted by said dampening fluid to thereby eliminate ink pickup by said intermediate roller, and

thereafter moving said metering roller away from said fountain roller after said from roller has been moved away from said plate cylinder and intermediate roller to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said intermediate roller to said fountain roller.

9. A method of positioning rollers in a printing press dampening unit to eliminate pickup by the rollers from the plate cylinder in which the dampening unit includes a fountain roller that serves as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller ositioned in spaced relation to said fountain roller and in sur ace contact with an intermediate roller, a form roller positioned in spaced relation to said intermediate roller and in spaced relation to the surface of said plate cylinder,

said method comprising, moving said metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller to thereby transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, thereafter moving said form roller into contact with said intermediate roller after said intermediate roller is wetted with said dampening fluid and transferring dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to said form roller, and after the surface of said from roller is wetted with dampening fluid moving said form roller into surface contact with said plate cylinder and thereby transfer dampening fluid from said form roller to the surface of said plate cylinder. 

1. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising, a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder, form roller positioning means to first move said form roller away from the surface of said plate cylinder while said form roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said form roller and to thereafter move said form roller away from said intermediate roller while said intermediate roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said form roller to said intermediate roller, metering roller positioning means to move said metering roller away from said fountain roller, and connecting means for both of said positioning means to control the sequential movement of said rollers so that said form roller first moves away from said plate cylinder and thereafter moves away from said intermediate roller before said metering roller moves away from said fountain roller so that said metering roller moves away from said fountain roller while said metering roller and intermediate roller surfaces are wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said intermediate roller to said fountain roller.
 2. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising, a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder, form roller positioning means operable to move said form roller away from the surfaces of said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller while said from roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said rollers, said form roller positioning means including a form roller shaft support having an arcuate passageway, said form roller having a shaft positioned in said arcuate passageway, a form roller position adjusting member rotatably mounted on the intermediate roller shaft, said form roller adjusting member having a connecting portion extending radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft and secured to said form roller shaft, said form roller adjusting member having a cam follower arm extending therefrom radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft, cam roller means rotatably mounted on said cam follower arm, a cam member mounted on a camshaft spaced from said intermediate roller shaft, resilient means urging said cam roller against the cam surface of said cam member, and said cam surface having a configuration to move said cam roller means radially relative to said camshaft and rotate said form roller adjusting member about said intermediate roller shaft and move said form roller shaft in said shaft support arcuate passageway to thereby move said from roller toward and away from said plate cylinder surface.
 3. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim 2 in which, said arcuate passageway in said form roller shaft supporting member has a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, said cam member having cam surfaces operable to move said cam follower and said form roller adjusting member to position said form roller shaft successively in said first arcuate portion of said arcuate passageway and thereafter in said second arcuate portion of said arcuate passageway to thereby first move said form roller away from said plate cylinder around said intermediate roller and thereafter move said form roller away from said intermediate roller.
 4. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim 2 in which, said form roller position adjusting member includes a cam follower portion rotatably mounted on said intermediate roller shaft and a separate annular portion rotatably mounted on said intermediate roller shaft, said cam follower portion having a protuberance extending radially relative to said intermediate roller shaft, said annular portion having an adjusting screw threadedly secured therein and abutting said protuberance, said resilient means urging said adjusting screw against said protuberance, said adjusting screw operable to adjust the position of said form roller relative to said plate cylinder surface.
 5. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising, a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, a form roller in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder, form roller positioning means operable to move said form roller away from the surfaces of said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller while said form roller surface is wetted with said dampening fluid to thereby prevent the transfer of ink from said plate cylinder to said rollers, metering roller positioning means to move said metering roller away from said fountain roller, said metering roller positioning means including a crank arm secured to an actuator shaft, a lever rotatably connected at one end to said crank arm and having an elongated slotted portion adjacent the other end, an actuator lever having a first end portion and a second end portion, said actuator lever pivotally mounted intermediate said end portions, said actuator lever having a pin member adjacent said first end portion positioned in said slotted portion and a saddle portion adjacent said second end portion, said metering roller having a shaft positioned in said saddle portion, said crank arm operable upon rotation to first move said pin in said slotted portion and thereafter rotate said pivotally mounted actuating lever to move said metering roller shaft upwardly in said saddle portion and thereby move said metering roller away from said fountain roller.
 6. A dampener for a printing press as set forth in claim 5 in which, a cam member for moving said form roller positioning means is secured to and rotatable with said actuator shaft so that said from roller is moved away from said plate cylinder and said intermediate roller and thereafter said metering roller is moved away from said fountain roller.
 7. A dampener for a printing press for supplying dampening fluid to the surface of a plate cylinder comprising, a fountain roller serving as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller and an intermediate roller, said metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, a pair of form rollers in surface contact with said intermediate roller and said plate cylinder, said form rollers operAble to transfer dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to the surface of said plate cylinder, form roller shaft supporting elements having elongated arcuate passageways therein positioned adjacent to said plate cylinder, said form rollers having shafts positioned in said elongated arcuate passageways, a pair of form rollers position adjusting members rotatably mounted on the intermediate roller shaft, said form roller adjusting members each having a connecting portion extending radially therefrom relative to said intermediate roller shaft secured to said respective form roller shafts, each of said form roller adjusting members having a cam follower arm extending therefrom relative to said intermediate roller shaft, cam roller means rotatably mounted on both of said am follower arms, a cam member mounted on a shaft spaced from said intermediate roller shaft, resilient means urging both of said cam rollers against cam surfaces on opposite sides of said cam member, and means to rotate said cam member so that said cam member rotates both of said form roller adjusting members about said intermediate roller shaft to move said form roller shaft in said respective shaft supporting elongated arcuate passageways and first move said from rollers away from said plate cylinder surface and thereafter move said form rollers away from said intermediate roller.
 8. A method of positioning the rollers in a printing press dampening unit to eliminate ink pickup by the rollers from the plate cylinder in which the dampening unit includes a fountain roller that serves as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to an intermediate roller and a form roller operable to transfer dampening fluid from the intermediate roller to the surface of the plate cylinder, said rollers being in series contact with one another to transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said plate cylinder, said method comprising, moving said form roller away from said plate cylinder while said form roller is wetted by said dampening fluid to thereby eliminate ink pickup by said form roller, thereafter moving said form roller away from said intermediate roller while said intermediate roller surface is wetted by said dampening fluid to thereby eliminate ink pickup by said intermediate roller, and thereafter moving said metering roller away from said fountain roller after said from roller has been moved away from said plate cylinder and intermediate roller to thereby prevent transfer of ink from said intermediate roller to said fountain roller.
 9. A method of positioning rollers in a printing press dampening unit to eliminate pickup by the rollers from the plate cylinder in which the dampening unit includes a fountain roller that serves as a source of dampening fluid, a metering roller positioned in spaced relation to said fountain roller and in surface contact with an intermediate roller, a form roller positioned in spaced relation to said intermediate roller and in spaced relation to the surface of said plate cylinder, said method comprising, moving said metering roller in surface contact with said fountain roller to thereby transfer dampening fluid from said fountain roller to said intermediate roller, thereafter moving said form roller into contact with said intermediate roller after said intermediate roller is wetted with said dampening fluid and transferring dampening fluid from said intermediate roller to said form roller, and after the surface of said from roller is wetted with dampening fluid moving said form roller into surface contact with said plate cylinder and thereby transfer dampening fluid from said form roller to the surface of said plate cylinder. 